Let's Ride the World!

245 km. Marikina-Batangas-Marikina Mountain Bike Ride

Lipa, BATANGAS is the second largest city in the province of Batangas in the Philippines. It is one of the three cities in Batangas (the others are Batangas City and Tanauan). It is located 78 kilometres (48 mi) south of Manila and, according to the 2007 census, has a population of 260,558 in 41,962 households. Lipa City is approximately midway between Batangas and Sulu and from the eastern periphery of Surigao Province to the western international boundary of Palawan. The city is in the center of Region IV, at the heart of Batangas Province.

Lipa City is bounded by the town of Santo Tomas in the northeast, San Pablo City of Laguna and San Antonio, Quezon in the east, the municipalities of Padre Garcia and Rosario in the southeast, the municipalities of Ibaan and San Jose in the southwest, the municipalities of Cuenca and Mataas Na Kahoy and Taal Lake in the west and the municipalities of Balete and Malvar in the northwest. The city’s location, in a valley between Mount Malarayat and Mount Makulot, makes it a low-risk area for natural disasters. These two mountains serve as a windbreak during typhoons. Mount Makulot, in the west, also served as shield during eruptions of the Taal Volcano.

The guy with a white helmet and shades is MANNY, our trailmaster.

April 20.2012. Can’t sleep. It’s 12:39AM already. Being an adventurer by heart, I always try to do the hard things, impossible things for most. The Lipa MTB ride is forecasted at 100 kms. – one way. Not so hard if not for the killer sun this week. I want to do it but my alter ego keeps chanting “You will fry your brains to DEATH!”. Manny called me twice telling me that Lipa is very near and not much uphill. With pretty much kicking and screaming, I finally found myself getting ready for the ride.

Ernie and Rocky are also joining. We started pedaling at around 5AM. Manny and 2 others are already there at the meeting place, Jollibee Concepcion,Marikina.

Our first hour of pedaling was smooth, 20 kms. in an hour.

MarikinaPasig Pateros Taguig Paranaque Las Pinas

Muntinlupa
We got to Alabang, Muntinlupa in no time.

San Pedro

Binan

Sta. Rosa

Calamba Sto. Tomas Tanauan City

Malvar
After this arc, I took a break and recharged with Coke and ice cream.

Lipa City
Finally, the center of the universe today, Lipa.RosarioOur lunch is ready at Rosario, 12 kms. away from Lipa. It’s 11 AM. Soo hot and humid. Manny told us that after eating lunch at Rosario, we have to pedal back to Lipa plus 7 kms. more to Mataas na Kahoy where we will stay for the night.
We touched down at Rosario for lunch. Here is the odometer reading.